Early Voting Resumes in Wake of Sandy

Fears that Hurricane Sandy would slow or delay voting in the presidential election have subsided with the storm. The storm’s biggest effect appears to be in early voting but even there officials say the time lost will be made up before Election Day Nov. 6.

The biggest concern now seems to be to restore power so voting machines will operate. Over 1 million people lost power in Pennsylvania but a spokesman for Secretary of State Carol Aichele told The Washington Post, “Things have improved dramatically. There could be a precinct here or there that could be impacted, but the early reports we’re hearing are pretty good.”

Talk of rescheduling Election Day seems to be just that, talk. Congress has established the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as the date for federal elections. Attempts by the states to alter that would no doubt lead to lawsuits, court fights, and charges of playing politics with the electoral process.

In Ohio, considered a bellwether for how the election may play out, the storm that hit the state’s western edge has so far had little effect. In Virginia, some precincts that were conducting in-person absentee voting were closed on Tuesday, according to the Post, but later opened for business in areas that went for President Barack Obama four years ago.

In North Carolina, which is leaning towards GOP challenger Mitt Romney, the Post reported that of 300 locations for early voting, just three were closed Tuesday.